Metal leaching from antimicrobial cloth face masks intended to slow the spread of COVID-19
Abstract Global health organizations recommend the use of cloth face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19. Seemingly overnight, companies whose primary business is in no way related to healthcare or personal protective equipment—from mattresses manufacturers to big box stores—transitioned into t...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98577-6 |
| _version_ | 1818845938447286272 |
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| author | Zoe A. Pollard Madeline Karod Jillian L. Goldfarb |
| author_facet | Zoe A. Pollard Madeline Karod Jillian L. Goldfarb |
| author_sort | Zoe A. Pollard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Global health organizations recommend the use of cloth face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19. Seemingly overnight, companies whose primary business is in no way related to healthcare or personal protective equipment—from mattresses manufacturers to big box stores—transitioned into the “mask business.” Many companies advertise antimicrobial masks containing silver, copper, or other antimicrobials. Often, the techniques used to load such antimicrobials onto mask fibers are undisclosed, and the potential for metal leaching from these masks is yet unknown. We exposed nine so-called “antimicrobial” face masks (and one 100% cotton control mask) to deionized water, laundry detergent, and artificial saliva to quantify the leachable silver and copper that may occur during mask washing and wearing. Leaching varied widely across manufacturer, metal, and leaching solution, but in some cases was as high as 100% of the metals contained in the as-received mask after 1 h of exposure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:37:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d582674ec57a43db995c2a915cb7d4ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:37:36Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-d582674ec57a43db995c2a915cb7d4ad2022-12-21T20:34:05ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-09-011111810.1038/s41598-021-98577-6Metal leaching from antimicrobial cloth face masks intended to slow the spread of COVID-19Zoe A. Pollard0Madeline Karod1Jillian L. Goldfarb2Department of Biological & Environmental Engineering, Cornell UniversityDepartment of Biological & Environmental Engineering, Cornell UniversityDepartment of Biological & Environmental Engineering, Cornell UniversityAbstract Global health organizations recommend the use of cloth face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19. Seemingly overnight, companies whose primary business is in no way related to healthcare or personal protective equipment—from mattresses manufacturers to big box stores—transitioned into the “mask business.” Many companies advertise antimicrobial masks containing silver, copper, or other antimicrobials. Often, the techniques used to load such antimicrobials onto mask fibers are undisclosed, and the potential for metal leaching from these masks is yet unknown. We exposed nine so-called “antimicrobial” face masks (and one 100% cotton control mask) to deionized water, laundry detergent, and artificial saliva to quantify the leachable silver and copper that may occur during mask washing and wearing. Leaching varied widely across manufacturer, metal, and leaching solution, but in some cases was as high as 100% of the metals contained in the as-received mask after 1 h of exposure.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98577-6 |
| spellingShingle | Zoe A. Pollard Madeline Karod Jillian L. Goldfarb Metal leaching from antimicrobial cloth face masks intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 Scientific Reports |
| title | Metal leaching from antimicrobial cloth face masks intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 |
| title_full | Metal leaching from antimicrobial cloth face masks intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 |
| title_fullStr | Metal leaching from antimicrobial cloth face masks intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Metal leaching from antimicrobial cloth face masks intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 |
| title_short | Metal leaching from antimicrobial cloth face masks intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 |
| title_sort | metal leaching from antimicrobial cloth face masks intended to slow the spread of covid 19 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98577-6 |
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